Switch-stand.



T. E. CALVERT.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLIOATION'I'ILBD NOV. 17, 1910, 1,067,303. Patented July 15, 1912 5 SHEETSSHBET l C/JZZYWSS 6-5 J Men/1'02" x WW 1 l2. advert T. E. CALVERT.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17, 1910.

l,O67,303. Patented July 15, 1913.

5 SHEETB-SHLET 2.

y /9 Witnesses 1h 06% r @W 220m Gdue/ri,

T. E. CALVERT.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17, 1910.

Patnted July 15, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

T. E. CALVB'RT.

SWITCH STAND. APPLICATION YILED NOV. 11, 1910'.

Patented July 15, 1913.

5 SHEETS- BRET '1.

'1. E. CALVERT SWlTUH STAND.

ATION rum) NOV.17, 1910v Patented July 15, 1912s.

a Shilr'lb 5&35'1'3.

entrain srarn r arnnr OFFICE.

THOMAS E. CALVERT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SWITCH-STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedJuly 15, 1913.

Application filed November 17, 1310; Serial No. 592.851.

To all whom it mag concern: y

Be it known that'l', TiioMAs E. CALVERT,

a citizen of the United States residing at' Chicago, in the county of Cool; and State of .lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Stands, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in railroad switching apparatus in general, and more particularly to a." switch stand of the general character covered by my prior Pat ems Nos. 353 (564 of'Deceinber 7 1886. and

.cmniection with the switch stand, thereby rendering liable a wrong switching or a dc rai'lment of a passing tram.

I The principal object'of my invention is to provide, in connection with an improved switch andsignal stand having independent means associated with its base for locking the switch points, a signal operating stand for controlling a-dist-ant signal and having suitable connections for interlocking with the switch controlling apparatus.

Another object-is to provide a switch stand in which the position of a locking od is interchangeable with respect to opposite sides of the stand and quadrant plate.

I also aim to furnish meansfor locking the switch points in a given position independently of the switch stand and which .will not be affected by injury to the stand or its failure in any way to perform its regular functions.

A further object of my invention is to provide a signal operating stand which will cooperate with a n ain switch stand to lock the switch points in a certain position, as for the main line and continue to hold said points locked independently of the switch stand in case of disability of the latter.

Means are furnished to prevent the reinoval of the switch stand locking key in intermediate positions, the object being to insure due attention of the switch operator to propel; setting of the lever in the process of switc ling.

It is especially aimed toprovideseparable means normally coacting with the switch stand which, independently of the standlockingineans, will retain the switch points in main line position.

Furtheig my invention consists in various details'oflconstruction and in combination of parts, all as hereinaftenmore fully set forth. y

A still further object of my invention is to provide a switch stand and accessories which will be simple infeonstruction, ellicient in operation, and durable in use.

These and other objects will be made apparent in the following specification.

My invention will be more fully d :scribed hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, showing a preferred embodiment, in whichis represented a=cnvenient and practical form. LMost of the figures represent the apparatus setter theline locked position or the normal main switch.

Figure 1 1s a plan view of the. switch stand, auxiliary signal operating stand,

tracks, and switch points connected therewith. Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the main switch stand, auxiliary signal -0perating device and interconnecting lock mechanismpart of which is shown in sec tion. This view is looking crosswise of the track. Fig. .3 is an enlarged-sectional view, taken on line 3 on the main stand of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a side elevation View of the Ina-in switch stand, looking from the right. of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows, separately, the several chief members of a foot-operated independent point-locking device adjacent the main stand. Fig.- 6 is an enlarged vertical axial section, taken on line 6 of Fig.1, facing away from the track. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the outer end-of the head block on which a footlever, locking rod and auxil-;

enlarged horizontal sectional view, of the main switch stand, taken ongline 8 of F ig. 6. F 1g. 9 is an enlarged horizontal *sec- -iary lock are shown mounted. Fig. 8 is an tional View, of the main switch stand, taken I on line 9 of Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a of' art of Figs. 2 and 7.

alto parts are indicated by like refermodification ence numerals in the several figures of the drawings.

Reference numerals 11 and IZindicate the rails of a railroad track at a point where a siding connects with the main line.

Numerals 13 and 14 indicate the switch points, which are shown in Fig. 1 in the main line position.

The tics underlying the rails are represented by numeral 15.

Numerals 16,17 and 85 indicate switch rods of any suitable construction for connecting the movable switch points 13 and l-l. Head blocks 18 and 19 project to one side of the track and upon them the switch stand and locking rod mechanism are mounted.

Numeral 20 indicates the base of the switch stand, which is provided with downis supported by an oscillatory lower hub element 25 to which the shaft is. fixedly attachedat its upper end, as hereinafter set forth. The portion of the shaft 23 beneath the web 24 lies closely adjacent the web and is provided with a crank. arm 26, the depending outer end 27 of which extends loosely through a'vertical opening in the outer end of a connecting rod 28, the opposite end of the latter being connected to a projection 17 of the switch rod 17 extending beneath the-rail 12. The end of the connecting rod 28, which extends beneath the base 20, is supported upon a strap 29, and is thereby retained in coupled relation with.

the depending-end 27 of the crank arm'26. The strap 29 extends bet-ween the head blocks '18 and 19, and is provided with upwardly projecting ends secured to the feet 21 and 22 of the base 20 on its trackward side in any suitable manner, as by casting the feet of the base around the ends of the strap. Straps may be on'both sides so as to facilitate interchangeability. I

The connecting rod 28 is put in place by inserting the crank end under the stand over the strap 29 and resting on said strap, but

with'the track end raised, thus permitting.

the crank end to go-under the said depending end 27 of the cr. nk arm 26 so that when the track end of rod 28 is lowered the crank tip 27 will enter the vertical opening in the crank end of rod 28. The track end of the connecting rod may then be attachedto 17 on the switch rod 17.

Numeral 30 indicates a quadrant plate, which is secured upon the upper end of the base 20, by means of a depending flange 31 having a conical opening therein, in which is received the conical upper fend 20 of the I base 20. In order to prevent rotation of the quadrant plate relatively to the base, interlocking ribs and grooves are provided, such as shown at 30' in Fig. 9an indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6. A lower hub casting 25 is located above and slidably pivoted upon the quadrantplate 30. It is rigidly fastened to the shaft 23 in any suitable manner, as by means of a key 32 shown in Figs. 6 and '8. Projecting laterally from the lower hub casting 25 is a lever 33 having therein a chamber, in which is received the upperend' of a handle 34. A pivot pin 35 extends through registering openings in the end of the handle within the chamber in the lever 33 and in the adjacent walls of said ehamher. 7

- Located within thechamber just back of the handle 34, in the lever 33, is alock'of ordinary key and plunger construction, comprising a casing 36 and plunger 37 A spring 38 is interposed betweemthe plunger and the casing, the tension of which pro jects the outer end of the plunger against the adjacent surfaces on the lever 33. A recess 57 is provided in the, lever, into which the' 2 locking plunger is normally projected by the spring when thelever isin'a-depending position, as shown in 'Fig. 6. Just above the lower hub element 25 and having rotatory bearing therein is an upper hubeasting 39 having a downwardly turned open chamher in' which is received, the upper portion of the lower hub 25, The upper part of hub 39 is hollow and surrounds the lower end of a short section of tubing 40 and is rigidly secured thereto by means of a transverse pin 41, extending partially within an annular groove in-- the upper reduced end 23 of the shaft 23, such reduced end projecting upwardly within the tube 40.

Numeral 42 designates the target mast, which rotatably abuts nearly upon but preferably sli htly out of contact with 23. of shaft 23 and which is surrounded by arid rigidly secured to the upper portion of the tube 40, preferably by means of welding,

The siding target is indicated by 43 and the main line target by 44. These targets lie in planes at right angles to eachother and are rigidly secured to the mast 42 in any suitable manner, as by means of U-bolts, as

shown in Figs. 2 and 4, where the main line position is shown. The weight of the upper hub element 39 and all parts attached thereto, as the sleeve 40, mast 42 and the targets, is normally carried by the lower edge-bearing of hub 39 on the lower hub 25.

In order that the switch points may be retained in main line position independentlyof the locking mechanism of the switch stand proper, I provide the following supplemental locking mechanism, so that in case the switelrstand should he accidentally inmamas B jurfid or displaced the switsh pmnts will m f awn? the rod 1 :13:91 Luther mam firmly lovlmi n mun mm wwmn inmmw rowan chad a! Um trad;

1s can my gun; m

means; 3 2th the switch mint i oniiumiy men! .m. and nxfwabiy a! file examine Lip and with Sllibilla: said pm: Thv end of QM 1m iemg 1 {waning tin-flu hm for] 45 p215: .s Un'migh a fact ivvur lUUi-IZU; ."muhiv min-vim} in frame 47 set ink; and atmclwd m 121;: (whit 4- imxwh m side .of one 0? the head block; 115 W. Luigi! cent the swiich mm This frmu- MI erabiy cumpr s mi "w "92% 1W4; iiunggw right angies and zpwi in magng u M10 pm: edge; 0f a head Musk he umnw with the horzxmtnl fizmgu "1?" w; a, ma;

guide and fastening zipzml, as @imwn i ward f" flange 17' 1A iaragitudi udgpied tr,

J i 4-59 exxl zzwiing 11;:-

side and mm M? 5mm uh. i

iu aiine'wem Ma? the spam Mn .w; wings 48. .3! tin: spin ba iwem =18 is plaum" a pimi Si! m1 3Q foot lav er .53 admin; in (A within the wi l Sik'lh This lever v Q: extvmie nmw 53' Where it is adapted in Z wardly by foot pzvsmm. i2 @Xi" ihrmi gl', Y Head Mm and umk'r i? paint 53" in, aim: m 1 mg rm? J33, Th3} i2; lusts uym 31w im i9 holds ii ml; 11-; Hump m madam; 1mm mm plate 30. The :zgs-pur Q5 2mg :2 Intern! 1mg L Vertical S101; {1:5 iim wait oi The quadrant iwvr imu'id 1!; i1 2 near its middle: mart with :1 yen-m m to engage am in M 5: lug 34', \vi w l'ed i s 20w? ed and in; Zaxw- W 11. osnmn, as hhmm in Fi (i. Wim ucked, Hm rod ix'czxin m1 2h illHF' a, 01. lever 53 110m 1' dryrebsed MK Lin: w; end of said 10%! raisul mm in MP5, 55 with a notch .58 in the under skis f? locking rm Thu. {with 5? ia gm so !0" Red on be And & an; in 6215.2, 2mm a.) when. tin; m9 main 55m:- pmsifiiom 5. Hm wwiu'h mam} .12m a renmwd 01; wh Hu swhz); pm I 0mm by Uh, ah Hue ma'v Hm gwsi ,1 Mmemw'. LL11: fink-V 5W3 53 in-cums of imam-:11; being iung'vr am] line p0, ln' -Emthan :irs nun-1" us fouimu, W1}! mmengineer of an in place. Then when the lever 68 is thrown the other way, the plunger 73,-is withdrawn. This leaves the locking rod 45 held only by the foot lever 53. This serves as a double check on the switch rod.

The signal stand 64. is provided to operate signals a distance frcm the switch an switch stand. T his is accomplished mechanically by means of iipair of wires or strands to and "it attached to opposite ends of the lever 67, as shown. The distant ends of these. wires are attached to any suitable signal mechanism, as a lever similar to 67, in accordance with methods already wellknown. This enables the switch operator to display an auxiliary signal at a sulficient distance from the switch to enable the approaching train to stop his train before reaching the switch.

The interlocking mechanism above described prevents the possibility of opening the switch without first setting the distant signal acrordingly. h'lorcover, the distant signal cannot be restored to themain line position until the switch has actually been so set.

The operation of my improved switch stand and interlocking device as follows: \Vhen the parts are in the position indi rated in tho (ll'i! wings, the switch points are lochetl. in main line position and the main line, target 44 occupies a plane transverse to the direction of the track. In order to throw the switch points to siding position the first step is to set. the distant signal by means of throwing lever (38 of the controller stand 64-. This releases the rocking rod 45 from engagement with pin '73 in frame 74. The key is then inserted in the lock carried by the switch stand lever 33 and the plunger 3'? withdrawn from engagement. with the recess 5?" in the heart oi. The huinllc 25 1 is then swung upwardly past the shoulder 8 on the quadrant plate, so thut the circular cam surface on its head will engage the plunger sumo retracted. thereby preventing the withdrawal oi the in as long as, the lever is in such position. the construction of the lock being such that the hey cannot be inserted or withdrawn except when the lock is in it normal locked condition. As this look construction is already well known in the lochsniith' art, it is not fully described hm cwiih or claimed as now. As soon as the bundle Siis raised the operator places his toot on the outer end of the auxiliary look ing lever I33 and depresses it, thusdisengaging same iron: the locking rod 45. This is permitted by ihc tact that. the handle 34 having been wrung outwardly hus disengl'fltffllillt lug I i from the recess 57 and solillows the bar il and lover end 53 to rise. The buniliu 3t is then moved along: the i uznlrunt plate, end such u'iovcnicnt oi the handle 34.

37 and retain the the handle is imparted to the lever 33 and the lower hub casting Q5 and thence to the crank shaft 23 connecting rod 28 points. The said handle, lever, lower hub and crank shaft all turn to ether through an angle of 1.80 degrees. oincident with this movement certain other members, namely, the upper hub, the tube 40, the mast 42 and the tar ets are turned only 90 degress or just ha f as far as the handle turns, as will be further explained. When the turning is complete handle 34 drops down behind shoulder 86'. I

In order to close the switch and bring the points to main line position a routine substantially the reverse of the above must, be

horizontal position, so as to pass above the shoulder 86 in the quadrant plate. It is then moved through"180'until lug 93 on the upper hub engages stop lug 92 on the quadrant plate and the lever 33 engages the stop lug 91 on the other side, whereupon the handle may be swung downwardly past the shoulder 86 into the position shown in Fig. 6, in which the handle is locked by the plunger 37 and in turn locks the rod 54 against risin through the engagement of the lug 54' within the recess rod 45 having been returned to locking position by themovement of the switch points, so that the outer end of lever 53 has been permitted to rise and enter under side of said locking rod, thus depressing the inner end where the rod 54 rests, an

permitting the rod 54 to fall. In case of any tendency of the rod 54 to stick the foot may be applied to step (32. The next stepis to set the distant signal in the main line pm sition and further lock the rod 45. This is done by throwing lever-68 outwardly thus operating the tension strands 70 and 71 and thrusting plunger 73 into engagement with rod 45. This can be done,only switchpoints are in their proper place, for if out of place, the hole 83 wi 1 not register with the plunger. Referring again to the moving parts of the switchstand proper it should be observed that the exact time of movement of hub 39 with respect to hub 25 is not absolutely fixed, but spends someand switch followed. First the handle 34 is swung into.

57, the locking when the what on adjustment and speed of operation.

Generally speaking, if the two hubs have an ordinary bearing fit one upon the other the inertia of the upper elements will not be sutiicient to prevent the" hubs turnin together during the first 90 de recs. If, 0w-

ever, thelever is turnedsu denly, so as to m ircome friction. or if by any chance in adjusting the parts, in the process of aspen:- l bling a large part or all of the weight 0 the l upper hub and mast rests pivotelly on the l upper end of shaft 23' they would tend to lag 90 behind the lower hub especiallylif the latter were turned quickly, and woul mm mine;

1 1 ahmzid r 8h ihc 1mm" 3 1 the Hwinm! xmpith 4hr mm) N) am? mas moving membm. 29 part way by rm hub nimw A2193: a hwm' hub in u'mzgh norms 2' E; 'sm'r vi n with r"v lug (m the ngper hmxlez' 85' on. the man J plat; 30 as mayFm seen: by stops the nmvemeut of {m up dues 'nm. slop thfi ins-vet? huh i WM imrr Ubolt's that hold them to the mast and then fastening them in the new position.

modified form of locking frame for use in connection with the signal stand 64 is shown in Fig l0v This frame 96 comprises a horizontal flange 96' and a vertical flange 96 adapted to engage a head block and a horizontal cross shaped body extending upward therefrom and in which are two intersecting chambers 97 and 98 extending therethrongh, the former adapted to receive the rod 45, and the other the plunger '53. This enables mounting the stand (34; on either side of the frame 96. These variations of detail are of a simple nature that may readily be seen by reference to the drawings without special illustration.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that l have invented an improved interlocking system including a switch stand and at ssories which not only comprise mechanism for throwing theswitch points and retaining them locked in either main line or siding posit-ion, but also com prise a dual supplemental locking device supported inde )endently of the switch stand and separately connected to the switch points, so as to positively retain such switch points locked in main line position, regardless of any accident which may happen to the switch stand. it will be further observed that such supplemental locking device cannot be operated except after a distant signal has been set and the handle of the switch stand has been unlocked, and hence the switch points are triply locked and can only be unlocked by one having the kev to' the switch stand lock.

' without departing from the spirit of h to be ll hile I have described more or less in detail the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, yet it will be understood that many modifications may be made by those skilled in the art my in- Theret'ore, I do not Wis limiting myself to any specific embodying structure, but desire to cover any structure embodying my invention as defined by my claims:

I claim: 1. In a device of the class described, a switch rod connected to a switch point, means to operate said switch rod, a locking rod connected to said switch point, means normally engaging said locking rod to prevent opening of said switch point, and means coaeting with said engaging means to hold the same locked in engagement with said locking ro said coacting means being provided with means whereby the operator can force said engaging means into engagewent with said locking rod. 1

2. In a device of the class described, a switch stand, a switch rod connected to a switch point, means carried by said switch venti on. understood as j said switch stand and having l stand to operate said switclrrod, a locking rod connected to said switch point, a lever located adjacent said switch stand pivoted intermediate its extremities and adapted to normally engage saidlocking rod when said switch point is in closed position, a rod carried by said switch st and co-acting with said lever to normally hold the same in engage- 5 ment with said locking rod. and means carried on said last named rod to enable an op erator to operate the same to force said lever j into engagement with said locking rod.

3. In a device of the class described, a switch stand, a switch rod connected to a switch point, means carried by said switch stand to operate said switch rod, a locking rod connected to said switch point, a lever located adjacent said switch stand pivoted intermediate its extremities and adapted to normally engage said locking rod= when said switch point is in closed position, a depressing rod carried by said switch stand coacting with said lever to normally hold the same in engagement with said locking rod, means carricdon said depressing rod to enable an operator to operate the same to force said lever into engagement with said lock ing rod, and means to lock said depressing red when said lever is in engaging position with said locking rod.

4. In a device of the class described, a switch stand, a switch rodconnected to a switch point, a rotatable crank carried by engaging said switch rod, a locking rod engaging said switch point and having a notch formed therein, a lever pivoted intermediate its extremities and-located adjacent the base ot said switch stand. said lever being adapted to normally engage the notch in said locking rod to prevent movement thereof when said switch point is in closed osition, a depressing rod carried by said switch stand and adapted to coact with one extremity of said lever to force the same into engagementwith said. locking rod, said depressing rod being formed'with a projection thereon to enable an operator to forcibly depress the coacting extremity of said lever.

5. In a device of the class described, a switch stand, a rotatable crank carried by said switch stand, said crank 'being formed with a crank arm at its lower extremity, a switch rod engaged by said crank arm and connected to a switch point, a locking rod secured to said switch point and rotatably mounted adjacent said switch stand, said locking rod being notched, a lever pivotally mounted below said switch stand an in l proximity thereto, said lever being located l approximately at right angles to said locking rod and projecting beyond to form an engaging portion, said lever beingadapted to enga e the notch in said locking rod when 1 said switch point is in closed position, a dea crank arm depressed mummy? mi;

, i funk invkir:

1: udxmgq am} being 315% nlmnhly mounted in mm ennui {mum-d Nkt'iiif, and mm! rre-uu'i' yzg with said sevm} named and" t in leak Mid 1m! in win hruggvuwm Hm" Hill.

1?. In a:

wtrim i Y :mh mammal mph-vi having t" said :uurkots. mPamS .1 mmn-d smfket in n wagmgzvznvni. therw a '-=-\-Uzui kwkiug mums vmuiing 2:1 svvmn'i nzzmml snv ket member m lurking" I'ml in vngagmmmt tlwrw frame mounted adjacent said stand, a lockpoint and i'eciprocabiy engaging Said frame, a lever pivotd in said frame, said lever normally engaging mevlinnism in the said 15 stand and held rigidly thereby subject in control of the said Stand 1001;. umi aim locking with said rad at a definite puini.

In testimony whereof, l. have. subsm'i mil my name.

ceive and coact with an int hangeable rod for engaging the lever arm carried by said quadrant on either side 01: the said stand, said rod being-adapted atits upper end to lock with said arm and at its lower end to engage a locking rod mechanism.

15. In a device of the clasdescribed, a switch stand adapted to open and close a switch point and having'sl 160k adapted to THOM E. CALVERT, hold same in a definite posiiian, a fixed \Vitnesses 1 F. W. RizEn,

ing rod connected atone end to said switch. ,CHAS. W. Bnmzu. 

